Raissa Melnyk, age 91, passed away peacefully on January 2, 2026, in Venice, Florida. 

She was born on April 1, 1934, in Lysa Hora, Mykolayivska Oblast, Ukraine, to Maria and Fedor Hraur, who preceded her in death. 

Raissa was a devoted homemaker and a longtime resident of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area before relocating to Florida 40 years ago. She married her beloved husband, Anatolij Melnyk, in 1951. He preceded her in death in 1992. Together they built a family rooted in faith, music, and strong Ukrainian traditions. 

The loving mother of five children, Raissa was an active Ukrainian community member. She was a longtime member of the church choirs at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Florida and St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Pennsylvania. She also shared her love of music as a member of the women’s Ukrainian ensemble “Chervoni Maky.” 

Raissa was passionate about her family, gardening, and healthy living. Her warmth, dedication, and beautiful soprano singing voice will be remembered by all who knew her. 

She is survived by her children and grandchildren: 

·               Lilia Melnyk Knight (Jim) of Lady Lake, FL 

·               Ihor Melnyk (Lydia) of Holland, PA; with sons Andrew (fiancée Allison Pease) and Roman 

·               Walter Melnyk (Roberta) of Aston, PA; with sons Olek, Bo, and Yuri 

·               Christopher Kapalcik, grandson 

In addition to her parents, brother and  husband, Raissa was preceded in death by her daughters Svitlana Melnyk Kowal and Nadia Melnyk (Kapalcik) Gibbons, and her grandson Travis Kapalcik. 

Services 

    •    Florida viewing and funeral services will be held at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 4100 S. Biscayne Drive, North Port, FL, on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. (time to be confirmed) 

    •    Pennsylvania family visitation will take place on Saturday, January 24, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m. (time to be confirmed) at Fletcher-Nasevich Funeral Home, 9529 Bustleton Ave., Philadelphia, PA. 

Burial services will follow at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery, Bound Brook, New Jersey. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Save Ukraine: https://www.saveukraineua.org